A record setting low pressure system continues its journey through Ontario today bringing another day of wet, windy conditions to not only Wisconsin, but the entire eastern half of the United States!  Rain, snow and wind across the Dakotas, into Minnesota and Wisconsin…on the south and east side, severe weather with strong storms, high winds and tornadoes.

Meteorologically speaking we call this “bombogenesis,” a storm with a central pressure dropping 24 millibars in less than 24 hours.  Record low pressure was reported across many locations on Tuesday with the lowest readings coming out of north central Minnesota (I found a few reports of 28.22” of mercury), setting an all time record for the lowest atmospheric pressure ever observed across the continental United States (this does not include tropical systems).

We can compare this storm to a mature hurricane (Cat 2 or Cat 3); thankfully for us here in the Chippewa Valley, it didn’t have the moisture a mature hurricane usually brings with it!

The winds will slowly die down by Thursday afternoon and sunshine will finally return with a gradual warm-up for the weekend!  In the mean time, batten down the hatches!

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Hometown Weather

It is hard to believe that only a month ago most of the trees across the Chippewa Valley were still a lush-looking green.  Within the span of a couple of weeks (and in some cases a matter of days) those leaves have really turned the vibrant colors we expect each year come early to mid-October.  Cooler nights, mild daytime highs in the 60s and 70s, and shorter days are the big factors which lead to chlorophyll production ceasing in plants.  Once this occurs, the green color (which masks the other colors in leaves throughout the summer) disappears, allowing the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows to show.

Mid-October is generally peak time for colors across the central and southern Chippewa Valley, with northern areas peaking during the first 10 days of October.  The very wet summer we experienced, however, probably stressed the leaves a bit causing a slightly earlier change this year.  Trees that exhibited an early color change (mid-late September) are already bare, and it won’t be long before only branches remain on the rest of the trees.  Here is an update on the fall foliage across Wisconsin as of today:

If you get the opportunity take a drive this weekend to enjoy one of the best features of fall in Wisconsin before it has passed for another year! – Chief Meteorologist Doug Michaels

Posted under Hometown Weather

Some might say we deserve this stretch of nice weather following a soggy and cooler September … and I would agree!  Fall 2010 has been the complete reverse of what last fall was like.  If you don’t recall, allow me to recap:  unseasonably warm and dry September conditions, followed by a chilly and wet October (which did include 4.7″ of snow), topped off by a return to milder days in November.  Does this mean November will involve more use of the heavier jackets?  If the month long trends we’ve been seeing hold true, then yes.  If you believe the outlook from the Climate Prediction Center, then you can keep the shorter sleeve shirts out a bit longer. 

No matter how the rest of this fall shakes out, the last several days have been fantastic.  Here is a review:

A quick synopsis of the week ahead features a cold front crossing the upper Midwest on Tuesday.  Outside of a few showers as the front passes the main significance will be a return to more seasonable temperatures:  highs in the 60s and lows in the upper 30s to lower 40s.  Enjoy the great weather ahead and look for a fall colors update tomorrow! – Chief Meteorologist Doug Michaels

Posted under Hometown Weather

Record breaking temperatures the last few days have drawn out the fall season a bit longer this year.  If we take a look back to October of 2009, you may remember that not only did we have snow by the 10th…high temperatures struggled to even make it into the 40s this same time last year.

Therefore it probably won’t surprise you when I tell you the Climate Prediction Center has forecasted above average temperatures for the next three months.  As far as precipitation goes, they’re saying we’ll be right on target.  Here’s a look at what you can expect:

http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/

The next week proves their theory…although temperatures will be a smidge cooler…they’ll still be above average.  Enjoy!

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Hometown Weather